"Shut up!" Onoki whipped around, a fierce glint flashing through his eyes. "Stay out of it? Do you think hiding will keep you safe? When dragons start fighting for dominion over the skies, the ants on the ground will be crushed just as easily, even if they dig holes and bury themselves!"
His gaze returned to the photograph, deep worry and exhaustion settling over his aged face.
"This world... is about to spiral out of control," he murmured. "The balance of power has been utterly shattered. The old rules no longer apply. What comes next is an age of gods at war, with no order whatsoever. If Iwagakure doesn't want to be crushed, it must find its place in this storm."
His back seemed to be aching again.
Kirigakure, the Mizukage's Office.
Mei Terumi leaned back in her chair, rubbing her throbbing temples, a rare look of bewilderment on her face. Across from her, the venerable Elder Genshi leaned on his cane, his clouded old eyes filled with shock and memories.
"Otsutsuki... I've only seen that surname in a few badly damaged ancient texts. Everything recorded in those books was dismissed as mythology..." Genji's voice was hoarse and drawn out. "According to legend, the mother of the Sage of Six Paths was an Otsutsuki who came from beyond this world. If the intelligence is true, that man named Toneri is a visitor from the moon..."
Mei Terumi picked up where he left off, a hint of self-mockery in her voice. "So people really do live on the moon? And they're relatives of the Sage of Six Paths, no less? Then this relative came down to Earth, fought someone with the Sage of Six Paths' eyes, and plowed through the Land of Rain while he was at it?"
It sounded